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CKD stage 3 diet
Hello! My husband was diagnosed with CKD stage 3 about 6 weeks ago. I have lists of sodium and potassium values for most common foods, also got some renal diet cookbooks from the library, as well as from Amazon, and do a lot of checking out recipes online.
I tried to find a renal dietician, but there isn't one. Physician(s) nor hospital outpatient services have anyone to recommend, either. Of course, once you progress to the dialysis stage, there's a personal dietician available. But not before, at least here.
So: muddling through. Most, if not all recipes I''ve seen are heavy on boiling stuff, especially vegetables. I get that for carrots, beans, etc., but I've yet to find a reason why I shouldn't roast them in the oven, with olive oil, garlic, etc. Does the cooking method really make a difference?
Also: almost every recipe for CKD diet is super low in calories. Great for someone overweight, but with a BMI of 21.6 my husband does not need to lose weight. But instead of bulking up with healthy vegetables I'm stuck with increasing carbs (rice, pasta), since vegetables contain quite a lot of potassium.
Lastly: leaching potassium out of potatoes: online recommendation is small pieces, lots of warm water, rinse and replace frequently, room temperature. Specially bought cook book by renal dietician says cold water, fridge, overnight (which internet says is the least effective method). Any comment? This is for potatoes destined to be roasted, not mashed.
Sorry to carry on, but there's so much conflicting information going on. Perhaps someone who has dealt with this for a while has some hints or advice.
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@edjag74 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! As you are reading here, diet plays such a an important part in our kidney disease journey! We tailor it to our own unique situation, and figure out what is best for us.
Congratulations on the drop in your A1C
Ginger
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1 ReactionYou get your renal dietitian online. I was shocked when my nephrologist had no one to recommend so i googled renal dietitian and a list came up. The appointments are on your computer. It’s made a huge difference for me and my doctor is amazed and so is her np.
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4 ReactionsI am also confused about potatoes. I have cut into pieces, boiled 20 minutes, drained, boiled a second time in fresh water suggested by one source. It is labor intensive, and the result disappointing. I share all the points you have made.
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1 Reaction@lumis Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! Keeping up on a renal diet can indeed be time-consuming, and takes dedication!
What is disappointing about the result you achieved? What stage of chronic kidney disease are you at?
Ginger
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1 ReactionHey everybody, I just reviewed this discussion from start to present time. What a long haul read. Obviously this is an ongoing really relevant topic. I hope everybody is doing well with eating plans, hydration, medication, exercise …..etc. My biggest take away from this discussion is that there are lots of general guidelines to follow but we are all different. Many of us have several health conditions to attend to and often the general guidelines need to be tweaked to suit our individual needs. Yes we are all different, but we are not alone on our better health journeys.
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2 Reactions@cehunt57 I find a lot of comfort in knowing that I can come here when I have questions, in doubt or even on the verge of giving up. So many supportive people with so much information. I always have takeaways that I didn't think about or forgot. I am very appreciative. Thank you to all of you!
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